Cooper Training Services (CTS) provides instruction on the use of computer software for the employees of its corporate clients

Problem 11-25 Effects of operating leverage on profitability

Cooper Training Services (CTS) provides instruction on the use of computer software for the employees of its corporate clients. It offers courses in the clients’ offices on the clients’ equipment. The only major expense CTS incurs is instructor salaries; it pays instructors $3,600 per course taught. CTS recently agreed to offer a course of instruction to the employees of Akers Incorporated at a price of $340 per student. Akers estimated that 20 students would attend the course.

Base your answer on the preceding information.

Part 1:
Required
a. Relative to the number of students in a single course, is the cost of instruction a fixed or a variable cost?
b. Determine the profit, assuming that 20 students attend the course.
c. Determine the profit, assuming a 20 percent increase in enrollment (i.e., enrollment increases to 24 students). What is the percentage change in profitability?
d. Determine the profit, assuming a 20 percent decrease in enrollment (i.e., enrollment decreases to 16 students). What is the percentage change in profitability?
e. Explain why a 20 percent shift in enrollment produces more than a 20 percent shift in profitability. Use the term that identifies this phenomenon.

Click here for the solution: Cooper Training Services (CTS) provides instruction on the use of computer software for the employees of its corporate clients

The Central Railroad allocates all central corporate overhead costs to its divisions

12-A3 Allocation of Central Costs

The Central Railroad allocates all central corporate overhead costs to its divisions. Some costs, such as specified internal auditing and legal costs are identified on the basis of time spent. However, other costs are harder to allocate so the revenue achieved by each division is used as an allocation base. Examples of such costs are executive salaries, travel, secretarial, utilities, rent, depreciation, donations, corporate planning, and general marketing costs.

Allocations on the basis of revenue for 20X7 were (in millions):
Division Revenue Allocated Costs
Northern $120 $ 6
Midwest 240 12
Texas-Oklahoma 240 12
Total $600 $30

In 20X8, Northern’s revenue remained unchanged. However, Texas-Oklahoma’s revenue soared to $280 million because of unusually large imports from Mexico. The latter are troublesome to forecast because of variations in world markets. Midwest had expected a sharp rise in revenue, but severe competitive conditions resulted in a decline to $200 million. The total cost allocated on the basis of revenue was again $30 million, despite rises in other costs. The president was pleased that central costs did not rise for the year.

1. Compute the allocations of costs to each division for 20X8.
2. How would each division manager probably feel about the cost allocation in 20X8 as compared with 20X7? What are the weaknesses of using revenue as a basis for cost allocation?
3. Suppose the budgeted revenues for 2002 were $120 million, $240, and $280, respectively, and the budgeted revenues were used as a cost driver for allocation. Compute the allocations of costs to each division for 20X8. Do you prefer this method to the one used in requirement 1? Why?
4. Many accountants and managers oppose allocating any central costs. Why?

Click here for the solution: The Central Railroad allocates all central corporate overhead costs to its divisions

Jarman Consulting Inc. provides financial and estate planning services on a retainer basis for the executive officers of its corporate clients

Jarman Consulting Inc. provides financial and estate planning services on a retainer basis for the executive officers of its corporate clients. It incurred the following labor costs on services for three corporate clients during March 2006:

Direct Labor
Contract 1 $12,000
Contract 2 7,200
Contract 3 28,800
Total $48,000

Jarman allocated March overhead costs of $21,600 to the contracts based on the amount of direct labor costs incurred on each contract.

Required
a. Assuming the revenue from Contract 3 was $65,600, what amount of income did Jarman earn from this contract?
b. Based on the preceding information, will Jarman report finished goods inventory on its balance sheet for Contract 1? If so, what is the amount of this inventory? If not, explain why not.


Click here for the solution: Jarman Consulting Inc. provides financial and estate planning services on a retainer basis for the executive officers of its corporate clients

The management discussion and Analysis section of an annual report addresses corporate performance for the year

The management discussion and Analysis section of an annual report addresses corporate performance for the year, and sometimes uses financial ratios to support its claims.

Address: www.ibm.com/investor/tools/index,phtml or go to www.wiley.com/college/wegandt

Steps
1. From IBM's Investor Tools, choose Investment Guides.
2. Choose Guide to Annual Reports.
3. Choose Anatomy of an Annual Report.

Instructions
Using the information from the above site, answers the following questions.

(a) What are the optional elements that are often included in an annual report?
(b) What are the elements of an annual report that are required by the SEC?
(c) Describe the contents of the Management Discussion.
(d) Describe the contents of the Auditors' Report.
(e) Describe the contents of the selected Financial Data.


Click here for the solution: The management discussion and Analysis section of an annual report addresses corporate performance for the year

Two years ago your corporate treasurer purchased for the firm a 20-year bond at its par value of $1,000

16.9. (Interest rate risk) Two years ago your corporate treasurer purchased for the firm a 20-year bond at its par value of $1,000. The coupon rate on this security is 8 percent. Interest payments are made to bond holders once a year. Currently, bonds of this particular risk class are yielding investors 9 percent. A cash shortage has forced you to instruct your treasurer to liquidate the bond.

a. At what price will your bond be sold? Assume annual compounding.
b. What will be the amount of your gain or loss over the original purchase price?
c. What would be the amount of your gain or loss had the treasurer originally purchased a bond with a 4-year rather than a 20-year maturity?(Assume all the characteristics of the bonds are identical except their maturity periods.)
d. What do we call this type of risk assumed by your corporate treasurer?


Click here for the solution: Two years ago your corporate treasurer purchased for the firm a 20-year bond at its par value of $1,000

Corporate executives sometimes abuse their positions by overpaying themselves at the expense of stockholders

Corporate executives sometimes abuse their positions by overpaying themselves at the expense of stockholders. When that happens are the executives' gains dollar-for-dollar losses to stockholders or can investors lose more or less than the amounts by which the executives profit? Explain thoroughly.


Click here for the solution: Corporate executives sometimes abuse their positions by overpaying themselves at the expense of stockholders

Based on the corporate valuation model, Bernile Inc.'s value of operations is $750 million

Based on the corporate valuation model, Bernile Inc.'s value of operations is $750 million. Its balance sheet shows $50 million of short-term investments that are unrelated to operations, $100 million of accounts payable, $100 million of notes payable, $200 million of long-term debt, $40 million of common stock (par plus paid-in-capital), and $160 million of retained earnings. What is the best estimate for the firm's value of equity, in millions?


Click here for the solution: Based on the corporate valuation model, Bernile Inc.'s value of operations is $750 million